Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-61-2010-2012

Effects of Lycopene, Indole-3-Carbinol, and Luteolin on Nitric Oxide Production and iNOS Expression Are Organ-Specific in Rats

Evita Rostoka ; Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
Sergejs Isajevs ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Larisa Baumane ; Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
Aija Line ; Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
Karina Silina ; Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga, Latvia
Maija Dzintare orcid.org/0000-0001-8027-9096 ; Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
Jelena Sharipova ; Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
Darja Svirina ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
Ivars Kalvinsh ; Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia
Nikolajs Sjakste orcid.org/0000-0002-4714-8016 ; Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga, Latvia

Abstract

Natural compounds are known to modify NO content in tissues; however, the biological activity of polyphenol-rich food often does not correspond to the effects of individual polyphenols on NO synthase
activity. The aim of this study was to see how natural compounds luteolin, indole-3-carbinol, and lycopene modify NO production in rat tissues and change the expression of the iNOS gene and protein. Indole-3-carbinol produced multiple effects on the NO level; it signifi cantly decreased NO concentration in blood, lungs, and skeletal muscles and increased it in the liver. Indole-3-carbinol enhanced lipopolyssaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in all rat organs. It decreased iNOS gene expression in the brain cortex of animals that did not receive LPS and up-regulated it in the LPS-treated animals. Lycopene increased the iNOS gene transcription rate in the brain cortex of LPS-treated animals. Luteolin did not modify NO
production in any organ of LPS-untreated rats, nor did it affect gene expression in the liver. In the brain it slightly decreased iNOS gene expression. Luteolin decreased NO production in the blood of LPS-treated animals and the number of iNOS-positive cells in these animals. Our results suggest that changes in tissue NO levels caused by natural compounds cannot be predicted from their effect on NOS expression or activity obtained in model systems. This stresses the importance of direct measurements of NO and NOS
expression in animal tissues.

Keywords

ESR spectroscopy; inducible nitric oxide synthase; natural compounds; NO

Hrčak ID:

58439

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/58439

Publication date:

17.9.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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